I have a yearling doe, first pregnancy, due March 5 or so. within the last couple weeks she's been lying down more than normal. In the last few days it's become apparant that she's sore or hurting in her front end, either feet or legs. Her hooves are somewhat overgrown, but not so much as to cause near lameness. This morning she stayed on her knees while urinating! I had a knowledgeable friend work on her hooves, but she thinks it's more than that. Her bag is filled out, too, especially on the right. The right felt warm, so I did a mastitis check with a little yellow dot card. There was milk in there (she's not due til March!) and the smaller, left side showed positive on the card for mastitis. Her temp was 103 when it was maybe 32 degrees outside. Any suggestions would sure be appreciated. The vets in this area are not very goat oriented, or I'd have already had one out. Thanks so much! Laura

-- Laura Jacques (tljacques@cyberport.com), December 27, 2001

Answers

I need some more information. What is the bedding? Is she eating at all? If so, what, and how much. It sounds as if there could be mastitis, but the problem is that colostrum can give a false positive on those cards. If she is not due until March 5, that seems to rule out pregnancy toxemia as a doe tends to go down with that in the last month. Are there any warm, swollen joints? Arthritis is a possibility, but again, if it were that, she would eat food brought close to her, and drink water. A vitamin B shot would be a very good thing. This is advice I've had from my vet when legs seem to be a problem, and there is no sprain, no hoof rot, etc. Please email me, answering the above questions. I would really like to get further into this. I am not yet discounting possible mastitis, which would need the start of a 5 - 7 day antibiotic treatment. In the meantime, please mix a very small amount of molasses into a pail of warm water and offer it to her. About 1 or 2 tablespoons per gallon. Too much molasses and she won't drink it.

-- Dianne Wood (woodgoat@pacifier.com), December 28, 2001.

I'd call the vet and put her in the car and go see them for a visit. I think toxemia might be your problem. It's worth the couple of bucks ( no pun inteneded) to have her checked out. You don't want to lose both her and the kids. Let us know how you make out !! Good Luck !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), December 28, 2001.

Was curious as to what you have found out? The Dr. Naylor cards are worthless. Don't waste your money. The CMT is much better, but by the time you have gelling you have damaged the udder. Except perhaps staph. A warm udder as in warmer than say her ear? The udder should be warm, being up inside her thighs. Some things to do is to infuse the udder, milk both sides out first, then infuse. This still gives her lots of time to make colostrum which the infusion does not affect. Does sound as if you have foundered her. A yearling is way to young of edema or ketosis, or or or this early in pregnancy, my yearlings do in March are just barely showing udder, and though are obviously bred looking, not big. Yes I bet I could squeese colostrum from their udder, though at this point it is weak and white looking not true colostrum. I also wouldn't be worried with 103, unless she wasn't eating or drinking. Edema, swelling of the front legs we do see in older bred does, but not with 60+ days to go. It is usually the last couple of weeks. But also the vet isn't going to help if you have foundered her. She could also be very sore from the hoof trimming, something you need to keep up on and not letting her get overgrown, overgrown as a yearling can ruin her for her whole life. She can also be defficient in calcium, though we mostly see that in swiss breeds bred young. Increase her alfalfa, and feed Tums everyday. Alfalfa pellets are fine also. Hope you get back with us. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001.

Thanks for all the helps! So far, we've gone on the assumption that she has foundered. We're aggressively addressing her hooves and have reduced the richness of her feed, ie grass in am and alfalfa in pm. She hates the grass....they all do! As far as the mastitis, we're giving her 5 cc's of Pen G 1x/day for 5 days. Now since Diane has told me about the mineral imbalance thing, I'll go look at that vet book and see what I can do. Thanks all of you. Laura

-- Laura Jacques (tljacques@cyberport.com), January 01, 2002.